They’re pulling back to crush AZOV.
The Ukrainian army isn’t a big deal compared to clearing off east Ukraine.
? I thought the point (at one time) was to destroy the Ukrainian army. Then the story was that the Russians would bombard Kiev until they quit (the Russians have pulled back out of normal artillery range of Kiev). And now they are headed to the Donets.
The stories change constantly.
This explains all the smoldering wrecks, piles of dead Russian bodies, and abandoned vehicles they've left behind as people are now filming these areas where Russia had its forces.